Transparent oven bottom

ABSTRACT

A domestic cooking appliance for heating a food item includes a main housing; a cooking chamber located in the main housing and configured to receive the food item, the cooking chamber having side panels, and a back panel; a heater cover panel located in a lower region of the cooking chamber, the heater cover panel being one of translucent and transparent; and a heater that produces heat for heating the cooking chamber, the heater being located below the heater cover panel. The heater is visible through the heater cover panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a domestic cooking appliance. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a bottom panel of an oven that allows a bottom burner to be seen through the bottom panel.

An example of an application for the invention is a domestic kitchen gas oven having a gas burner located below a transparent bottom panel of the cooking compartment of the oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some modern domestic kitchens include cooking appliances such as ovens and ranges that have one or more heaters that provide the heat for cooking a food item in the appliance. The heater(s) can be, for example, gas burners, electric heating elements, or other heat producing devices. In some of these appliances, a heater located at the bottom of a cooking chamber of the appliance is covered by an opaque panel.

Applicants recognized an improvement to the above arrangement and implement that improvement in embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY

The invention achieves the benefit of providing a user of the appliance with the ability to see the heater in the bottom of the cooking chamber. This benefit is achieved by providing a heater cover panel that is transparent or translucent so that the user can see whether the heater is producing heat (for example, burning gas in the case of a gas burner, or electrically energized in the case of an electric heating element). A transparent or translucent heater cover panel provides the above benefit while also protecting the heater from drippings or other material separated from the food item and providing an easily cleanable surface.

Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic cooking appliance for heating a food item. The appliance includes a main housing; a cooking chamber located in the main housing and configured to receive the food item, the cooking chamber having side panels, and a back panel; a heater cover panel located in a lower region of the cooking chamber, the heater cover panel being one of translucent and transparent; and a heater that produces heat for heating the cooking chamber, the heater being located below the heater cover panel. The heater is visible through the heater cover panel.

In some embodiments, an area below the heater cover panel and an area above the heater cover panel are fluidly connected, the area below the heater cover panel and the area above the heater cover panel are both in the cooking chamber, and the heater is located in the area below the heater cover panel.

In some embodiments, the appliance has an openable door that permits access to the cooking chamber when the door is in an open position, the door having a transparent window that allows viewing of the cooking chamber when the door is in a closed position. The heater is visible through the window when the heater is producing heat and the heater cover panel is in an operating position.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic cooking appliance for heating a food item. The appliance having a main housing; a cooking chamber located in the main housing and configured to receive the food item; a transparent burner cover panel located in a lower region of the cooking chamber; and a gas burner that produces heat for heating the cooking chamber, the gas burner being located below the burner cover panel. Flames produced by the gas burner are visible through the burner cover panel when the burner is burning gas.

In some embodiments, the burner cover panel has an opacity of between 20% and 30%.

In some embodiments, the appliance has an openable door that permits access to the cooking chamber when the door is in an open position, the door having a transparent window that allows viewing of the cooking chamber when the door is in a closed position. The flames produced by the gas burner are visible through the window when the burner is burning gas and the burner cover panel is in an operating position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of an appliance;

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention with the door in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention with the door in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention with the door in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary heater cover panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary heater cover panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a heater cover panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a heater cover panel in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

As explained above, embodiments of the invention provide an improvement to a domestic oven or other cooking appliance.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a domestic home appliance 100 in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In this example, appliance 100 has an upper cooking section 140 having multiple gas burners 145, a control panel 130, a housing 110, and a door 120. Door 120 has a handle 122 and a transparent window 125. Window 125 allows a user to see into a cooking chamber 200 (FIG. 3) when door 120 is in a closed position.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an appliance 100 with door 120 in an open position to allow access to cooking chamber 200. Cooking chamber 200 has, in this example, side walls 210, a rear wall 220, and a bottom 230. The appliance shown in FIG. 2 has a heater cover panel 400 that covers a heater (for example a gas burner) located in cooking chamber 200 and below heater cover panel 400. In this example, heater cover panel 400 has two openings 410 that allow air to pass between a space below heater cover panel 400 and a space above heater cover panel 400.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention that includes a heater pan 300 in the bottom 230 of appliance 100. Heater pan 300 is, in this embodiment, a recess into bottom 230 under a heater such as, for example, gas burner 310 shown in FIG. 4. Gas burner 310 is just one example of a heater in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Other examples of heater 310 are electric resistive heating elements, infrared heaters, other electric heating elements, and other devices that generate heat to heat cooking chamber 200. While FIG. 4 shows a single gas burner 310, other examples have two or more gas burners. Still other examples have one or more of the other types of heaters listed above. Particular embodiments can have any combination of any number of each type of heater.

As shown in FIG. 2, some domestic cooking appliances have an opaque heater cover panel such as heater cover panel 400. Heater cover panel 400 can be a metal panel that is provided to block a user's view of any heater provided under heater cover panel 400.

The inventor of the current invention recognized a disadvantage of the opaque heater cover panel 400 shown in FIG. 2. That disadvantage is that a user looking into the cooking chamber cannot tell if the heater is activated. A purpose of the opaque nature of heater cover panel 400 is to intentionally block the user's view of an unsightly burner. A purpose of the invention is to allow a user to see whether burner (or other heater) 310, for example, is activated (in this example, burning gas) when looking into the cooking chamber. In embodiments that have transparent window 125 in door 120, burner or other heater 310 is visible simultaneously through both heater cover panel 500 and window 125 when door 120 is in the closed position. As a result, a user can tell if burner or other heater 310 is activated without opening door 120.

In some embodiments, another advantage of heater cover panel 500 being transparent is that it provides a distinguishing feature of appliances in accordance with the invention when compared to other appliances. For example, a distinctive shaped heater, such as burner 310, being visible to a user immediately identifies appliance 100 as a particular type, model, or brand of appliance. In addition, heater 310 can be shaped in custom designs such as words, letters, symbols, etc., as required by a user. Providing transparent heater cover panel 500 permits a user to see the custom design of heater 310.

In embodiments, heater cover panel 500 has 0% opacity (100% transparency). In other embodiments, the opacity is more than 0% to create, for example, a smoked or other appearance. In some embodiments, opacity is at a level that obstructs view of heater 310 when heater 310 is not emitting any light, but allows heater 310 to be seen when heater 310 is emitting light (such as flames from a gas burner 310).

Opacity of a medium is defined according to the formula:

Opacity=100%(1−(I(x)/I ₀))

where:

x=the distance the light has traveled through the medium,

I(x)=the intensity of light remaining at distance x, and

I₀=the initial intensity of light, at x=0.

In some embodiments of the invention, heater cover panel 500 has a 0% opacity (100% transparency). In other embodiments, the opacity of heater cover panel 500 is more than 0% and less than 100% in order to allow a user to see heater 310 through heater cover panel 500 differently in different conditions. In particular embodiments, the opacity of heater cover panel 500 is between 5% and 95%. In particular embodiments, the opacity of heater cover panel 500 is between 10% and 80%. In particular embodiments, the opacity of heater cover panel 500 is between 20% and 50%. In particular embodiments, the opacity of heater cover panel 500 is between 20% and 30%. In some embodiments, the opacity is such that heater cover panel 500 is translucent such that heater 310 is not visible through heater cover panel 500, but light emitted from heater 310 is visible through heater cover panel 500.

In particular embodiments, heater 310 is visible through heater cover panel 500 when heater 310 is producing heat (for example, burning gas in the case of a gas burner, and energized in the case of an electric heating element). In some embodiments where heater 310 is visible through heater cover panel 500 when heater 310 is producing heat, heater 310 is not visible through heater cover panel 500 when heater 310 is not producing heat. The opacity of heater cover panel 500 is selected based on the desired visual appearance for these two conditions. For example, in an embodiment, heater cover panel 500 (such as a smoked ceramic glass) has an opacity of 20% and allows a user to see heater 310 when producing heat, but prevents the user from seeing heater 310 when not producing heat. In the case of heater 310 being a gas burner, the flames of heater 310 can be seen through heater cove panel 500 due to the light emitted by the flames. In the case of heater 310 being an electric heating element, the red (or other color) glow of heater 310 can be seen through heater cove panel 500 due to the light emitted by the electric heating element.

The ability of a user to see heater 310 through heater cover panel 500 provides the benefit of a user being able to determine whether or not heater 310 is energized while also providing a solid surface to prevent drippings or other material produced by the food item being heated from contacting heater 310. Opaque oven bottom panels do not provide this advantage.

FIG. 6 shows an example of heater cover panel 500 that is a solid piece of material and has two openings to allow air to pass between a space below heater cover panel 500 (where heater 310 is located) and a space above heater cover panel 500 (where a food item is placed for heating). In this example, heater cover panel 500 has an upper surface 510, a front edge 540, and side edges 530. In this example, heater cover panel 500 has a uniform thickness. In other examples, heater cover panel 500 has different thicknesses at different locations. Varying thicknesses at different locations on heater cover panel 500 can promote air movement in a desired path, as explained in relation to FIG. 9, below. Varying thicknesses at different locations on heater cover panel 500 can promote flame spread in a desired pattern in the case of one or more gas burners. For example, the shape of the underside of heater cover panel 500 can be designed to promote the flames from one or more gas burners to spread into a predetermined pattern such as, for example, a brand-defining logo or name. Other examples have fewer or more openings than the number shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows an example of heater cover panel 500 that is a solid piece of material and has no openings.

Embodiments of heater cover panel 500 are materials that can withstand temperatures generated by the particular heater 310 used in appliance 100. In some examples, this temperature is between 500 degrees C. and 1000 degrees C. An example of materials that can be used for heater cover panel 500 is ceramic glass. Other transparent or translucent materials that can withstand the temperatures generated by the particular heater 310 can also be used.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of heater cover panel 500 shown in FIG. 7. As can be seen from FIG. 8, this example of heater cover panel 500 is solid and has a uniform thickness between upper surface 510 and a lower surface 520. In some embodiments, a uniform thickness as shown in FIG. 8 provides a less distorted view of heater 310 from above heater cover panel 500 than a heater cover panel having a thickness that is not uniform.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a cross-section of a heater cover panel 500′ that has a thickness that is not uniform. In this example, an upper surface 510′ is planar and horizontal. In other examples, upper surface 510′ includes one or more planar surface and/or one or more non-planar surfaces. In this example, the bottom surface of heater cover panel 500′ has two sloped surfaces 522, 524 that meet at an edge 526 that is a straight line. Other examples have the same number or a larger number of surfaces that are planar or non-planar and intersect at various locations on the bottom surface of heater cover panel 500′.

Sloped surfaces 522, 524 of the example shown in FIG. 9 promote the flow of hot gases produced by (or heated by) heater 310 toward outer edges of heater cover panel 500′. In some embodiments (such as those having a gas burner 310) that require venting between the spaces above and below heater cover panel 500, 500′ and have heater cover panels 500, 500′ that have no openings, one or more gaps are provided between the edges of heater cover panel 500, 500′ and the cooking chamber walls/bottom to allow gases to pass between these spaces. Some embodiments include both one or more openings in heater cover panel 500, 500′ and one or more gaps at the edges of heater cover panel 500, 500′.

Some embodiments use heaters that do not require any venting between the space in which the heater is located and the cooking chamber, such as, for example, some electric heating elements. Some of these embodiments do not provide a fluid connection between these two spaces. For example, they do not have any openings in heater cover panel 500, 500′ and do not have any gaps at the edges of heater cover panel 500, 500′.

Transparent heater cover panel 500, 500′ provides the benefit of allowing heater 310 to be viewed by a user while also providing a surface to prevent drippings and other material from the item being heated from contacting the heater. This simplifies cleaning the appliance by avoiding the need to clean around a complex-shaped heater 310.

It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Any of the features described above can be combined with any other feature described above as long as the combined features are not mutually exclusive. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A domestic cooking appliance for heating a food item, comprising: a main housing; a cooking chamber located in the main housing and configured to receive the food item, the cooking chamber having side panels, and a back panel; a heater cover panel located in a lower region of the cooking chamber, the heater cover panel being one of translucent and transparent; and a heater that produces heat for heating the cooking chamber, the heater being located below the heater cover panel, wherein the heater is visible through the heater cover panel.
 2. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the heater cover panel is located above the heater at every part of the heater.
 3. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the heater cover panel is a glass ceramic.
 4. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein an area below the heater cover panel and an area above the heater cover panel are fluidly connected, the area below the heater cover panel and the area above the heater cover panel are both in the cooking chamber, and the heater is located in the area below the heater cover panel.
 5. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein an air gap exists between an edge of the heater cover panel and one of the group consisting of a first one of the cooking chamber side panels, a second one of the cooking chamber side panels, and the cooking chamber back panel.
 6. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the heater cover panel has an air passage through which air can pass between the area below the heater cover panel and the area above the heater cover panel.
 7. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein an area below the heater cover panel and an area above the heater cover panel are fluidly connected, the area below the heater cover panel and the area above the heater cover panel are both in the cooking chamber, and the heater is located in the area below the heater cover panel.
 8. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein the heater cover panel has an opening that fluidly connects the area below the heater cover panel and the area above the heater cover panel.
 9. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein the heater cover panel has a horizontal bottom surface when installed in the domestic cooking appliance.
 10. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein the heater cover panel has a bottom surface that includes a first non-horizontal sloped surface when installed in the domestic cooking appliance.
 11. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the bottom surface of the heater cover panel has a second sloped surface that intersects the first sloped surface at a positive angle.
 12. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the heater cover panel has a lowest point formed by a line at the intersection of the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface when installed in the domestic cooking appliance, the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface angling upward away from the intersection line.
 13. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the heater cover panel is transparent.
 14. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the heater is a gas burner.
 15. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the heater is an electric heating element.
 16. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising an openable door that permits access to the cooking chamber when the door is in an open position, the door having a transparent window that allows viewing of the cooking chamber when the door is in a closed position, wherein the heater is visible through the window when the heater is producing heat and the heater cover panel is in an operating position.
 17. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the burner cover panel has an opacity of between 20% and 30%.
 18. A domestic cooking appliance for heating a food item, comprising: a main housing; a cooking chamber located in the main housing and configured to receive the food item; a transparent burner cover panel located in a lower region of the cooking chamber; and a gas burner that produces heat for heating the cooking chamber, the gas burner being located below the burner cover panel, wherein flames produced by the gas burner are visible through the burner cover panel when the burner is burning gas.
 19. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 18, wherein the burner cover panel has an opacity of between 20% and 30%.
 20. The domestic cooking appliance of claim 18, further comprising an openable door that permits access to the cooking chamber when the door is in an open position, the door having a transparent window that allows viewing of the cooking chamber when the door is in a closed position, wherein the flames produced by the gas burner are visible through the window when the burner is burning gas and the burner cover panel is in an operating position. 